"
"It's too late for that now,", replied Art, "for I axed him betther than
three weeks agone."
"An' did he consint?"
"He did, to be sure."
"Well, then, keep your word to him, of coorse; but, as soon as the
christenings over, drop him like a hot potato."
"Why, thin, that's hard enough, Frank, so long as I find the crathur
civil."
"Ay, but, Art, don't I tell you that it's his civility you should be
afeard of; throth, the same civility ought to get him kicked a dozen
times a day."
"Faix and," said Art, "kicked or not, here he comes; whisht! don't be
oncivil to the little bachelor at any rate."
"Oncivil, why should I? the little extortionin' vagabone never injured
or fleeced me; but, before he puts his nose into the house, let me
tell you wanst more, Art, that he never gets sweet upon any one that he
hasn't in hatred for them at the bottom; that's his carracther."
"I know it is," said Art, "but, until I find it to be true, I'll take
the ginerous side, an' I won't believe it; he's a screw, I know, an' a
skinflint, an'--whisht! here he is."
"Toal Finnigan, how are you?" said Art; "I was goin' to say how is every
tether length of you, only that I think it would be impossible to get a
tether short enough to measure you."
"Ha, ha, ha, that's right good--divil a man livin' makes me laugh so
much as--why then, Frank Maguire too!--throth, Frank, I'm proud to see
you well--an' how are you, man? and--well, in throth I am happy to see
you lookin' so well, and in good health; an' whisper, Frank, it's your
own fau't that I'm not inquirin' for the wife and childre.
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